Caster.



No. 718,521. PATENTBD 11111.13; '19163; G. A. RENTSGHLER E J. KAEFER.

CASTER.

Unire rares ATBNT FFICE,

GEORG A. RENTSOHLER AND JOI-IN KAEFER, OF HAMILTON, OHIO, AS-

SIGNORS TO THE PHOENIX OASTER COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS,

INDIANA CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 718,521, dated January 13, 1903.

Application filed September 20J 1902. Serial No. 124,151. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORG A. RENTscH- LER and JOHN KAEFER, citizens of the United States, residing at Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casters, (Oase A,) of which the following is a specication.

This invention pertains to improvements in two-wheeled furniture-casters; and the invention will be readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved caster; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 4, a side elevation, part vertical section, of the same; and Fig. 5, a plan, part horizontal section, of the same.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the stem of the caster, which is to be arranged for attachment to furniture in any ordinary or suitable manner; 2, the hemispherical lower end of the stem; 3, a circumferential groove in the stem near its lower end; 4, a journal on the upper portion of the stem; 5, a downwardlypresenting collar-surface carried by the stem just over journal 4; 6, a collar rigidly secured to the stem, as by a force fit, and having an upwardly-presenting surface at the base of journal 4; 7, a ring loosely engaging between the collars 5 and 6 and resting upon collar 6 and having an exterior diameter preferably somewhat greater than that of collar 6 and having a bore considerably greater in diameter than journal 4; 8, a circumferential series of disks disposed within the ring 7 around the journal 4 of the stemv and supported by collar 6 5 9, the housing of the caster, illustrated as of the usual three-horned type customary with two-wheeled casters; 10, the axle of the licor-wheels, the same being carried by the housing rearward of the axis of the stem and in the general horizontal plane of the hemispherical lower end of the stem; 11, the Hoor-wheels housed in the housing on the axle; 12, a hemispherical bearing carried by the central horn of the housing and engaging the lower end of the stem; 13, a notch across the front face of the lower portion of the central horn of the housing and presenting itself toward the stem at the circumferential groove 3 thereing'14, an open collar or ring secured upon the stem by being closed thereon in the circumferential groove 3, so as to tightly grasp the neck formed by the groove, the outwardly-projecting portion of this collar loosely engaging within the notch 13 of the housing; 15, the roof portion of the housing, the same projecting forward and encircling the stem; 16, an elliptical opening in the roof portion of the housing of such dimension as to freely encircle the hub of collar 6 and permit of the proper oscillating movement of the housing upon the stem, the Walls of this elliptical opening being normally free from any engagement with any of' the stem parts, except when the caster is pushed rearwardly, when as a preliminary to the swiveling of the housing on the stem the front wall of the elliptical opening may make contact with the hub of collar 6, and thus limit the fore-and-aft rocking of the housing upon the stem; 17, a wall projecting upwardly from the roof of the housing and having a curved inner surface presenting itself against the periphery of ring '7, and 18 aflange upon the stem and typifying one of the ordinary means for securing the stem to the furniture.

Our invention does not concern itself with the manner of securing the stem to the furniture, but contemplates any of the usual provisions for that purpose.

The vertical load is transmitted through the stem to the forwardly-projecting portion of the housing at the foot of the stem, andthe load being borne by the wheels and axle the upper portion of the housing tends to rock forward upon the axle. This rocking is prevented by the contact of wall 17 with ring 7. In two-wheeled casters it is of the utmost importance that as the caster moves forward the two wheels may take a fair bearing upon the floor-in other words, that the housing may oscillate freely-and it is also of importance that the housing may swivel freely while both wheels have a fair bearing upon the floor in order that the caster may readily adjustitself into new lines of travel as occasion requires. In the present case the oscillation of the housing takes place upon the rounded lower end IOO of the stem, the effect of the load at the same time urging wall 17 hard againstring 7. The side shifting of the upper portion of the housing as the oscillation of the housing takes place causes wall 17 to shift with a rolling motion on ring 7, the ring turning and the disks S causing its turning movement to be very free from friction and the general result being that the housing has a peculiarly free oscillating motion. We prefer to employ disks as the antifriction elements within the ring 7; but we sometimes employ balls as a substitute and equivalent for the disks, and we wish it distinctly understood that we consider the balls as a mere equivalent for the disks illustrated.

Our invention not only yields a castel-having a superior action, but it results in a structure capable of being produced with accuracy, uniformity, and economy. The disks having been assembled around the stem and the ring placed around the disks and collar 6 having been forced top lace, the stem portion of the structure becomes self-contained and complete and parts cannot fall apart when the housing is removed. Collar 14 is formed of a coil of wire capable of being closed in the groove of the stern. The wheels, axle, and housing having been assembled and the assemblage having been placed upon the stem, the collar 14 is applied and engaging within and tightly filling notch 13 retains the housing structure upon the stem. The housing maybe removed from the stem by prying open and removing the ring 14.

We claim as our invention- 1. In a caster, thecombination, substantially as set forth, of a stem, a housing coupled to the foot of the stem by a joint permitting of swiveling and oscillation, an axle and pair of `floor-wheels carried by the housing, a journal on the upper portion of the stem, upwardly and downwardly presenting collar-surfaces at the ends of said journal, a circular series of disks surrounding said j ournal between said collar-surfaces, a ring encircling the series of disks between said collar-surfaces, and a Wall carried by the upper portion of the housing and presenting its forward face to the periphery of said ring.

2. In a caster, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a stem, a housing coupled to the foot of the stem by a joint permitting of swiveling oscillation, an axle and pair of floor-Wheels carried by the housing, a journal on the upper portion of the stem, a downwardly-presenting collar-surface 0n the stem above said journal, a separable collar secured to the stem and having an upwardlypresenting collar-surface below said journal, a circular series of disks surrounding said journal between said collar-surfaces, a ring encircling the series of disks between said collar-surfaces, and a wall carried by the upper portion of the housing and presenting its forward face to the periphery of said ring.

3. In a caster, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a stem fitted for attachment to furniture and having a hemispherical lower end and having a circumferential groove near its lower end, a separable open collar engaging said groove, and tightly grasping the neck formed thereby, a housing having a hemispherical bearing engaging the lower end of the stem and having a central horn provided with a notch loosely engaging said collar, an axle and pair of floor-wheels carried by said housing, and a roof upon said housing having an elliptical perforation surrounding the upper portion of the stem.

GEORG A. RENTSCHLER. JOHN KAEFER.

Witnesses:

ELMER R. SHIPLEY, M. S. BELDEN. 

